SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — It’s been going on all this time, right under our noses.

For all the dramatic and disappointing developments involving the Giants in recent days, and for all the stress fractures beginning to show in a franchise that has been the National League’s model of stability for years, there is still a roster to assemble. There are still jobs to be won. And there is still that spring mix of striving veterans and promising kids fighting to be noticed.

So maybe let’s pay attention to that.

This game is about the players, after all, and there was no better reminder than the sight of Hunter Pence taking those scoopy swings from the on-deck circle and then doffing his sports sedan-blue Texas Rangers helmet as he acknowledged an outpouring of appreciation from the crowd at Scottsdale Stadium on Saturday.

“It’s awesome to see the ovation he got,” said Giants left-hander Derek Holland, who backed off the rubber to ensure Pence had...